The first ‘annexe’ school is to open in September as a Sevenoaks satellite of the Weald of Kent grammar school.
Photograph: Kent County Council/PA

Grammar schools across England could be allowed to expand even though the government dropped its manifesto promise to revive school selection, education campaigners have warned.

Existing grammar schools remain able to exploit a loophole that bypasses the ban on any new school in England from selecting pupils based on entrance exams, despite the government’s change of heart over the policy.

The loophole allows existing grammars to open “satellite” campuses or annexes miles from their original site – as has already happened in Kent – or even in neighbouring local authorities.

Several grammars in Kent are among 17 selective schools that applied for permission to expand, according to freedom of information requests of applications since 2012 recently obtained by the Comprehensive Future campaign group.

“We worry that annexe grammar school expansions will permit a slow but steady expansion of selection by other means. We know many schools have already explored using this shady route to avoid the law,” said Melissa Benn of Comprehensive Future.

Grammar schools dominated by the wealthy, DfE's own data shows

Read more

Benn said her organisation had been “thrilled” by the disappearance of policies to promote selective schools from the Queen’s speech this week, saying: “This scheme was widely criticised by headteachers, teaching unions, and academic experts, and most parents and teachers are relieved this will not happen.”

The first such annexe is to open in September, as a Sevenoaks satellite of the Weald of Kent grammar school in Tonbridge, after the Department for Education granted approval despite the more than 10 miles distance between the two sites. The new girls’ school will have 450 pupils, who will be bussed to Tonbridge once a fortnight.

“Any comprehensive area bordering a selective one is still under threat from this form of expansion,” said Benn.

“Parents may unwittingly find themselves with an 11-plus school system. The government cannot legislate to create new grammar schools, but we would like to see this loophole closed so that grammar schools cannot be built by legally dubious means.”

Earlier this year the government had announced a new policy to allow new grammars to be built, and included it in the Conservative election manifesto. But voters showed little enthusiasm for the policy.

Graeme Brady, the Conservative MP and vocal supporter of the policy, conceded on Thursday that the case for new grammar schools was now “off the table” .

The FOI requests found several applications from schools in Kent, which has maintained county-wide selection for children aged 11. Two further applications for expansion had been made by Weald of Kent school, alongside applications from Invicta grammar school in Maidstone, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, as well as Cranbrook and Tonbridge grammar schools.

Grammar schools lose top spots after league table shakeup

Read more

Essex, which also has a high proportion of grammar schools, has seen applications by Westcliff High School for Girls in Southend-on-Sea and Colchester Royal Grammar school.

In Liverpool the Blue Coat school has also applied, as has Birmingham’s Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls. West Yorkshire may see expanded sites from Heckmondwike grammar school and North Halifax grammar school.

Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Lancaster Girls’ Grammar school and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in Trafford were also seeking permission from the DfE.

Annexe grammar schools have also been proposed in Croydon and Maidenhead – Theresa May’s constituency, which currently has no grammar schools.